Lens module and system for producing image having lens module

ABSTRACT

The present invention discloses a lens module and a system for producing an image. The lens module includes a print circuit board, a spacer, attached onto the print circuit board, and the spacer having a through hole; a lens assembly, supported by the spacer and covered the through hole; an image sensor, mounted on the print circuit board and electrically connected with the print circuit; the lens assembly is configured for capturing light reflected by an object and transmitting the light into the image sensor; the image sensor is configured for converting the light into raw image signals. The lens module may be a simple optics module and thinner than a related lens module.

FIELD OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to imaging lens. Moreparticularly, this invention relates to a lens module and a system forproducing an image having such lens module.

DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART

A related camera module has many lens elements to improve fieldcurvature and distortion. High quality lenses can have even 7 lenselements. The thickness of the related camera module is usually morethan 5 mm with 7 elements. The related camera modules have lenses withhigh thickness, which is not suitable for new mobile terminal, whichbecomes thinner and thinner.

Therefore, it is necessary to provide a new lens module and a system forsolving above mentioned problem.

SUMMARY

In one aspect of the present disclosure, a lens module, comprises: aprint circuit board, a spacer, attached onto the print circuit board,and the spacer having a through hole; a lens assembly, supported by thespacer and covered the through hole; an image sensor, mounted on theprint circuit board and electrically connected with the print circuit;wherein, the lens assembly is configured for capturing light reflectedby an object and transmitting the light into the image sensor; the imagesensor is configured for converting the light into raw image signals.

In another aspect of the present disclosure, a system for producingimage, comprises: a lens module, comprising: a print circuit board, aspacer, attached onto the print circuit board, and the spacer having athrough hole; a lens assembly, supported by the spacer and covered thethrough hole; an image sensor, mounted on the print circuit board andelectrically connected with the print circuit; wherein, the lensassembly is configured for capturing light reflected by an object andtransmitting the light into the image sensor; the image sensor isconfigured for converting the light into raw image signals; a processor,electrically connected with the image sensor, the processor configuredfor receiving the raw image signals from the image sensor andpre-storing object image signals; a neural network, coupled to theprocessor, and configured for: receiving the raw image signals;receiving the object image signals; training the neural network,correcting the raw image signals according to the object image signals;outputting an object image.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematically cut-away view of a lens module according tothe first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematically cut-away view of a lens module according tothe second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematically cut-away view of a lens module according tothe third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematically cut-away view of a lens module according tothe fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematically cut-away view of a lens module according tothe fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematically cut-away view of a lens module according tothe sixth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a schematically cut-away view of a lens module according tothe seventh embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a schematically cut-away view of a lens module according tothe eighth embodiment of the present invention

FIG. 9 is a schematically block view of a system for producing imageaccording to the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, the present invention will be further described withreference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments.

Embodiment 1

As shown in FIG. 1 , a lens module 100 in the present invention includesa circuit board 11, a spacer 12 having a through hole 120 penetratingthrough the spacer 12 assembled with the circuit board 11, a lensassembly 13 fixed to the spacer 12 and covering on the through hole 120,and an image sensor 14 attached onto the circuit board 11. The lensassembly 13 is configured to capture the light reflected by the objectand transmit the incident light into the image sensor 14. The imagesensor 14 then converts the incident light into electric signal. Theimage sensor 14 is disposed in the through hole 120.

The spacer 12 may be cylinder shaped, and the through hole 120 penetratethrough the spacer 12. One end of the spacer 12 is attached onto thecircuit board 11, and the other end of the spacer 12 is configured tosupport the lens assembly 13.

The lens assembly 13 includes a first lens 131, a second lens 133 and anaperture sheet 132 sandwiched between the first lens 131 and the secondlens 133. The first lens 131, the second lens 133 both have a fixingportion 1311, 1331 fixed to the end of the spacer 12 and an imagingportion 1312,1332 for capturing the light. The fixing portion 1311,1331surrounds the imaging portion 1312, 1332, respectively. The aperturesheet 132 defines an aperture window 1320 for transmitting the light,corresponding to the imaging portion 1312, 1322. The aperture sheet 132may be coated with infrared cut filter coating. The lens array may becurved shaped. The aperture window 1320 may be a transparent area madeof transparent material.

With such configuration, the lens module 100 has two lenses and theimage captured by the lens module and then is processed by a neuralnetwork. The more field curvature and distortion can be tolerated due toneural network process. Thus, the thickness of the lens module can bethinner.

Embodiment 2

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2 , most of the elements of thelens module 200 are same as those in Embodiment 1. Only one differenceis presented in EMBODIMENT 2, which is detailed below.

In EMBODIMENT 2, the lens assembly 23 further includes a micro-lensarray 234. The micro-lens array 234 includes a plurality of micro-lenses2342 and a periphery 2341 surrounding the micro-lenses 2342. Themicro-lenses array 234 is received in the through hole 220 of the spacer22 and fixed to the spacer 22 via the periphery 2341. The micro-lensarray 234 is spaced apart from the second lens 233 with the micro-lenses2341 disposed corresponding to the imaging portion 2312,2332. Theincident light from the first lens 231 and the second lens 233 arecaptured by the micro-lenses and then transmitted to the image sensor24.

With such configuration, the images captured by the micro-lenses can becombined into a composite image by the neural network, it allows morefield curvature and distortion to be tolerated due to neural network.

Embodiment 3

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3 , most of the elements of thelens module 300 are same as those in Embodiment 1. However, thedifference existed in EMBODIMENT 3 is detailed as below.

In EMBODIMENT 3, the lens assembly 33 includes only the micro-lens array334. The micro-lens array 334 includes the plurality of micro-lenses3342 and the periphery 3341 surrounding the micro-lenses 3342. Themicro-lens array 334 may be used as the aperture sheet. The micro-lensesare received in the through hole 320 and corresponding to the imagesensor 34. In this embodiment, the image sensor 34 is a flat imagesensor. The incident light is captured by the micro-lenses 3342, andthen transmitted to the image sensor 34. The image sensor 34 obtains aplurality of image signals, and then the individual images throughmicro-lens array can be combined into the composite image by neuralnetwork.

Embodiment 4

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4 , most of the elements of thelens module 400 are same as those in Embodiment 3. However, thedifference existed in EMBODIMENT 4 is detailed as below.

In this embodiment, the lens assembly 43 includes the micro-lens array434 and the aperture sheet 433. The micro-lens array 434 includes aplurality of micro-lenses 4342 and the periphery 4341 surrounding themicro-lenses 4342. The micro-lens array 434 is fixed to the spacer 42via the periphery 4341 with the micro-lenses 4342 received in thethrough hole 420 of the spacer 42. The aperture sheet 433 is attached ona side of the micro-lens array 434 close to the image sensor 44. Theaperture sheet 433 also has a plurality of windows 4330 for passingthrough the incident light, each window is disposed corresponding toeach of the micro-lenses 4342. The windows 4330 are spaced apart fromeach other with an even interval. In some use cases the scaling of themicro-lenses 4342 and windows 4330 can vary. This may allow more lightto pass through the corresponding surface area of the image sensor 44.

Embodiment 5

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5 , most of the elements of thelens module 500 are same as those in Embodiment 3. However, thedifference existed in EMBODIMENT 5 is detailed as below.

In this embodiment, the lens assembly 53 includes two micro-lens array534 and the aperture sheet 533. The aperture sheet 533 is sandwichedbetween two micro-lens arrays 534. Each micro-lens array 534 has aplurality of micro-lenses 5342 and the periphery 5341 surrounding themicro-lenses 5342. The micro-lenses 5342 are received in the throughhole 520, and the peripheries 5341 are fixed to the spacer 52. Themicro-lenses of one micro-lens array are facing the micro-lenses of theother micro-lens array one by one. The aperture sheet 533 has aplurality of windows 5330, which are corresponding to the micro-lensesone by one. The incident light captured by the micro-lenses, and passingthrough the windows, and then captured by the micro-lenses of the othermicro-lenses array, and then transmitted to the image sensor 54.

Embodiment 6

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6 , most of the elements of thelens module 600 are same as those in Embodiment 1. However, thedifference existed in EMBODIMENT 6 is detailed as below.

In this embodiment, the image sensor 64 is curved shaped. The imagesensor 64 has a plurality of curved surface 641. The incident lighttransmitted via the lens assembly 63 is sensed by the plurality ofcurved surface 641, and then produce a lot of image signals. The neuralnetwork processed the image signals and the image signals can becombined into composite image by the neural network. The image sensor 64may a mosaic image sensor.

Embodiment 7

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7 , most of the elements of thelens module 700 are same as those in Embodiment 3. However, thedifference existed in EMBODIMENT 7 is detailed as below.

In this embodiment, the lens assembly 73 includes the first lens 731, athird lens 736 and the micro-lens array 734. The shape of the first lens731 can be controlled by the piezo-film or SMA actuator. It is fixed tothe spacer 72 via the fixing portion 7311 with the imaging portion 7312received in the through hole 720. The lens assembly 73 can perform AFfunction due to actuator reshaping (curvature change) the first lens 731and third lens 736. The third lens 736 is a filled cavity of opticallybehaving flexible material (e.g. liquid polymer gel). The third lens 736is sandwiched between the first lens 731 and the micro-lens array 734.The fixing portion 7311 of the first lens 731 has a piezo-film or SMAactuator to perform the AF function and correct the lens errors. Themicro-lens array 734 has a plurality of micro-lenses 7342 and theperiphery 7341 surrounding the micro-lenses 7342. The micro-lenses 7342are disposed corresponding to the imaging portion 7312. In thisembodiment, the micro-lens array 734 is used as the aperture sheet.

Embodiment 8

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8 , most of the elements of thelens module 800 are same as those in Embodiment 7. However, thedifference existed in EMBODIMENT 8 is detailed as below.

In this embodiment, the lens assembly 83 includes the first lens 831,the third lens 836, the micro-lens array 834 and the aperture sheet 833.The first lens 831, the third lens 836, the micro-lens array 834 and theaperture sheet 833 are sequentially stacked upon each other in adirection toward the image sensor 84. The aperture sheet 833 has aplurality of windows 8330. Each window 8330 faces one of the micro-lens8342. The incident light captured by the first lens 831, and passingthrough the third lens 836, and the micro-lenses 8342, incident into theimage sensor 84 via the window 8330. The aperture sheet 833 may becoated with infrared-cut filter coating.

The individual images captured by the micro-lenses can be processed bythe neural network to combine the individual images into compositeimage.

In the present invention, as shown in FIG. 9 , a system for producing animage includes: the lens module 100, a processor 200 electricallyconnected with the lens module 100, and a neural network 300 coupled tothe processor 200.

The processor 200 and the neural network 300 operate as follows:

S1: many raw image signals are captured by the above-mentioned lensmodule 100, and then be sent to the processor 200; an object imagesignals also be pre-stored in the processor 200;

S2: the neural network processed all of the image signals and combinedthem into a composite image. Specifically, the neural network will betrained and finally produce the images similar to the object image.

S3: the composite image is displayed on an electric terminal, such asmobile phones. The composite image processed by the neural network hasless blurriness and distortion.

In the present invention, the lens module may be a simple optics moduleand thinner than a related lens module. The lens module has an in-builtfield curvature and distortion removal of the optics, which can enableimages stitching from narrow FOV to combine into a full FOV compositeimage.

The above is only the embodiment of the present invention, but not limitto the patent scope of the present invention, and the equivalentstructures or equivalent process transformations made by utilizing thepresent invention and the contents of the drawings, or directly orindirectly applied to other related technology fields, are all includedin the scope of the patent protection of the present invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A lens module, comprising: a print circuit board,a spacer, attached onto the print circuit board, and the spacer having athrough hole; a lens assembly, supported by the spacer and covering thethrough hole; an image sensor, mounted on the print circuit board andelectrically connected with the print circuit; wherein, the lensassembly is configured for capturing light reflected by an object andtransmitting the light into the image sensor; the image sensor isconfigured for converting the light into raw image signals; the lensassembly comprises a micro-lens array, the micro-lens array comprises aplurality of micro-lenses and a periphery surrounding the micro-lenses;the micro-lenses received in the through hole, and the peripheryattached to the spacer; the lens assembly further comprises an aperturesheet attached to a side of the micro-lens array close to the imagesensor; the aperture sheet comprises a plurality of windows that facethe micro-lenses one by one.
 2. The lens module according to claim 1,wherein, the lens assembly comprises a first lens, a second lens, and anaperture sheet sandwiched between the first lens and the second lens;both of the first lens and the second lens have an imaging portionfacing the image sensor and a fixing portion fixed to the spacer.
 3. Thelens module according to claim 1, wherein, the lens assembly furthercomprises another micro-lens array attached onto a side of the aperturesheet close to the image sensor; the micro-lenses face the windows,respectively.
 4. The lens module according to claim 1, wherein, theimage sensor has a plurality of curved surfaces for capturing the light.5. The lens module according to claim 1, wherein, the lens assemblycomprises a first lens and a third lens sandwiched between the firstlens and the micro-lens array; the first lens comprises an imagingportion and a fixing portion; the imaging portion facing themicro-lenses with a gap; the third lens fulfilling the gap.
 6. The lensmodule according to claim 5, wherein, the third lens is made of flexiblematerial.
 7. A system for producing image, comprising: a lens module,comprising: a print circuit board, a spacer, attached onto the printcircuit board, and the spacer having a through hole; a lens assembly,supported by the spacer and covering the through hole; an image sensor,mounted on the print circuit board and electrically connected with theprint circuit; wherein, the lens assembly is configured for capturinglight reflected by an object and transmitting the light into the imagesensor; the image sensor is configured for converting the light into rawimage signals; the lens assembly comprises a micro-lens array, themicro-lens array comprises a plurality of micro-lenses and a peripherysurrounding the micro-lenses; the micro-lenses received in the throughhole, and the periphery attached to the spacer; the lens assemblyfurther comprises an aperture sheet attached to a side of the micro-lensarray close to the image sensor; the aperture sheet comprises aplurality of windows that face the micro-lenses one by one; a processor,electrically connected with the image sensor, the processor configuredfor receiving the raw image signals from the image sensor andpre-storing object image signals; a neural network, coupled to theprocessor, and configured for: receiving the raw image signals;receiving the object image signals; training the neural network,correcting the raw image signals according to the object image signals;outputting an object image.
 8. The system for producing image accordingto claim 7, wherein, the lens assembly comprises a first lens, a secondlens, and an aperture sheet sandwiched between the first lens and thesecond lens; both of the first lens and the second lens have an imagingportion facing the image sensor and a fixing portion fixed to thespacer.
 9. The system for producing image according to claim 7, wherein,the lens assembly further comprises another micro-lens array attachedonto a side of the aperture sheet close to the image sensor; themicro-lenses face the windows, respectively.
 10. The system forproducing image according to claim 7, wherein, the image sensor has aplurality of curved surfaces for capturing the light.
 11. The system forproducing image according to claim 7, wherein, the lens assemblycomprises a first lens, and a third lens sandwiched between the firstlens and the micro-lens array; the first lens comprises an imagingportion and a fixing portion; the imaging portion facing themicro-lenses with a gap; the third lens fulfilling the gap.
 12. Thesystem for producing image according to claim 11, wherein, the thirdlens is made of flexible material.